Umbilical truss.



No. 655,5I4. Patented Aug. 7, |900,

H. c. HASH. UMBILICAL TRUSS.

(Application led May 19, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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I'IOIVARD O. RASH, OF SALINA, KANSAS, ASSIGNORl TO THE NATURAL BODY BR-AOEV COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

UMBlLlCAL TRUSS.

SPEGXFICATIOII formingpart of Letters Patent No. 655,514, dated August '7, 1900.

Application tiled May 19, 1900. Serial No. 17,230. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD O. RAsH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salina, in the county of Saline, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Navel-Trusses,of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to an improvement in trusses and abdominal supports, particularly intended for use in cases of navel-hernia, in which the hernia cannot well be reduced and in which support for the broken walls is needed. The platesheretofore used in such cases slip out of place easily and have to be applied so tightly as to be uncomfortable and injurious to the general health of the wearer and are not adapted to give the general abdominal support which is needed in nearly all such cases. My improved truss-plate is intended to support the broken walls and at the same time to give general support to the abdomen and to be so sustained in position by an arrangement of belts and straps that it will be held firmly but lightly in position without injury to the wearer and with the least possible inconvenience.

With this object in view my invention consists in the truss-plate and abdominal supporter having a recess adapted tovreceive the hernia and the means for sustaining it in position, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows my improved truss-plate in position with the means by which it is sustained, shown partly in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a front view of my improved truss-plate. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the same, andFig. 4 is a vertical sectional view.

In the drawings, lis my improved trussplate. This is curved vertically and transversely, as shown, to iit the general shape of the abdomen and, as shown, is longer vertically than transversely. It is made of a single plate of thin material, which while retaining the general shape is sufficiently flexible to be readily shaped by the hands to fit the individual wearer. Preferably this plate is made of sheet-brass of such composition that it will have the qualities above stated,

and is nickelpl ated, polished smooth, per'A forated, as shown, and has a flanged edge "c. It may, however, be made of aluminium or other material.

The truss-plate 1 is provided near its lower end with two pads or pressers, one on each side, projecting rearwardly, as shown in Pat; ent No. 503,000, granted to me August 8, 1893, and is provided near its upper end with a recess 3, preferably of elliptical form, adapted to rest over the navel and receive the hernia which cannot well be reduced, and thus give support to the broken abdominal walls.

The front face of the trussplate l is provided with cleats l, formed by lugs 5, stamped from the material of the plate. Four of these cleats are providedeetwo in the lower portion of the plate near the inner edges of the pads or pressers 2 2 and two in the upper portion` of the plate between the recess 3 and the edge of the plate, preferably on a line a little above the lower edge of the recess. n

To the cleats 4 are detachably secured by means of clamp-plates 6 (shown in my patent before referred to) the ends of belts 7 and S. The upper belt 7 is preferably narrow and is preferably made of elastic material. This belt is secured at the back of the wearer to plates 9, carried on the upper ends of springs 10. The lower belt 8 is preferably broader and is preferably made of non-elastic material. It is secured at the back of the wearer to plates 11, carried on the lower ends of the springs, 10. The belts are thus held at a fixed distance apart at the back of the wearer. The belt S in front near the clamp-plates 6 and also at the back of the wearer near the plate l1 may be provided with buckles 12, by which straps 13, preferably of soft nonelastic material, may be secured. These straps in use pass beneath the body of the wearer and serve to prevent the belts and truss=-plate from slipping upward out of place.

T o the back of belt 8 are secured by buckles shoulder-straps 14, which, as shown, are connected by cross-straps 15 and pass around the shoulders of the wearer, thus preventing the belts, and consequently the truss-plate 1, to which they are attached, from slipping downward out of place. The belts and trussplate are thus firmly held in place without the necessity for tightening the belts Sulliciently to cause injury or inconvenience to the wearer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 7 l. A truss-plate and abdominal supporter for use in cases of navel-hernia, formed of a single plate of thin slightly-iiexible material, curved longitudinally and transversely to the general shape of the abdomen, and adapted to form a support therefor, having formed therein near its upper end a recess adapted to receive and sustain the hernia and provided on its front face With means for engaging supporting belts or straps; substantially as described.

2. A truss-plate and abdominal supporter for use in cases of navel-hernia formed oi a single platetof thin slightly-flexible material having its greater length in a vertical direction, curved longitudinally and transversely to the general shape of the abdomen, and adapted to form a support therefor, having formed therein near its upper end a recess adapted to receive and sustain the hernia, having formed therein near its lower end at opposite sides rearwardly-projecting pads or pressers, and having on its front face cleats for engaging supporting belts or straps;V substantially as described.

3. The combination with a truss-plate and abdominal supporter for usein cases of navelhernia, having near its upper end a recess adapted to receive and sustain the hernia,

having near its lower end rearwardly-proj ecting pads or pressers, and having pairs of cleats on its front face near its upper and lower ends, of upper and lower belts provided Y adapted to receive and sustain the hernia,

having near its lower end rearwardly-projecting pads or pressers, and having pairs of cleats on its front face near its upper and lowervends, of upperand lower belts provided respectively with means for detachably engaging the upper and lower cleats on the plate, means for holdingl the belts apart at the back of the wearer, and straps connected to one of said belts in rear of the wearer, and

adapted to pass beneath the body of the wearer, and means for connecting such straps to the belt in front of the wearer; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOYVARD C. RASH. Vitnesses:

A. C. MOYER, C. L. DODGE. 

